Christmas tree ornament



June 27, 1933. J. c. MARR CHRI STMAS BREE ORNAMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet l elm v 4 J4 Inventor fl Home y June 27, 1933. J Q MARR 1,916,059

'0 HRI STMAS TREE ORNAMENT Filed Oct. 25, 1952 3 SheetS-Sheet a Patented June 27, 1933 UNITED STATES JESS C. IVLARB, OF UHRICH SVILLE, OHIO CHRISTMAS TREE ORNAMENT Application filed October 25, 1932. Serial No. 639,497.

This invention relates to an improved elec- V tric ornament which is especially, but'not necessarily, adapted for use in dressing a Christmas tree.

5 V The novel and unique device constituting the subject matter of this application is expressly designed to take the place of the usual top'piece ordinarily used as a pinnacle ornament on the tree, which ornament as is well known to all, is generally attached to the apex of the stem or trunk of the tree.

The improved device depicted in the accompanying illustrative drawings is of an electrical illumination type expressly made to project icturesolue diversified scintillating and ever-changing colored light beams or rays downwardly onto the branches and other ornaments and trimmings with which the tree is finished.

The particular details selected for accomplishing these results will become more readily apparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevational view showing the preferred embodiinentof the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional and elevational view illustrating the co-action of part-s more explicitly.

Figures 3 and 4 are horizontal sections taken on the lines 3-3 and H respectively of Figure 2, observing the structure in the direction of thearrows. v r

F Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary de- U tail section illustrating the principle of air circulation and'propulsion.

Figure 6 is a section taken on the plane of the line 6-6 of Figure 1'.

Referring now to the preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the drawings, it will-be observed that the struc tureis characterized by a suitable enclosure or casing which is preferably in the nature a of a frusto-conical lamp shade 7. This may U be of any appropriate material and proportions. At its top it is formed with a tapping plate 8 which serves as a support for an electric light socket 9 arranged to suspend 5 the incandescent bulb The numeral 11 merely designates a conventional electrlc cord which is provided with a fixture for connection with the wall socket, floor plug, or the like.

Incidently, the device is intended to receiive current from the ordinary house sup.- p 5"- I Struck out from the lamp shade at the point of attachment of the socket are tongues 12 which define air circulation and discharge ports or outlets 13. Suitably attached to the interior of the shade is an appropriate light ray reflector 14 having holes 15 suitably arranged to permit the discharge of air currents.

I next call attention to the numeral '16 in Figure 2 which designates a dished plate attached to the upper ends of the arms 17 of a yoke 18. This plate is equipped with a screw thread-ed centrally arranged collar 19 and a marginal retention ledge 20. A companion ledge 21 is formed on the inner peripheral edge .ofan annulus 22 which annulus is provided with a flange 23 riveted or otherwise secured to the shade. The annulus is also formed with air intake openings 24. i

The ledges 20 and 21 are tied together through the instrumentality of radial circumferentially spaced wires or rods 25,- and these ledges form seats for reception of the light ray interceptor. This interceptor unit is of general annular form, being differentiated by the numeral 26, and, as shown in Figure 3, being provided with a plurality of differently colored sectors or segments 27 of distinguishable colors. These sectors 27 may 8b be of glass or suitable transparent materials.

They are assembled in edging rims 28 which are seated in the ledges 20 and 21 as shown in Figure 2. This multi-colored interceptor unit constitutes a relatively stationary partition which intercepts the conventional light rays from the bulb 10 and changes the colors into the desired blending or harmonious ensemble.

It is appropriate here to introduce thefunnel-like ferrule or socket 29 which is adapted to fit telescopically down over the upper end of the trunk 30 of the Christmas tree 31 as shown in Figure 1. This is .connected with the yoke through the instrumentality of a flexible coupling32 to permit the shade to be tilted to the desired angle with respect to the position of the trunk of the tree. In Figure 1 however it will be observed that a stick or equivalent attaching tang 33 is carried by the ferrule and is adapted to be secured to the trunk of the tree by wrapped Wire or suitable tying means Referring again to Figure 2, I now invite attention to the rotary interceptor unit which is the same in construction as the companion unit 26. The rotary unit is distinguished by the numeral 35 and also embodiessegmental panels or sectors 36 of suitable colors and shapes assembled in metal rims or binders 37. The inner rim is attached to a marginal annular ledge formed on a hub .plate 39. The outer rim or binder is seatedin asimilar ledge forming a part of adriving ring or propeller 10. This propeller is provided with suitably proportioned and spaced fins or blades 41 movable in the path of the air intake. holes 24. V

The aforesaid hub 39 is attached to a perpendicular shaft 42 whose lower pointed end is' journalled in a bearing socket formed in an adjusting screw 43. This screw is threaded through the aforesaid collar 19. The up- :per pointed end 4% of the shaft is journalled for rotation in a bearing projection 45 constituting a part of a harness or saddle clip 46 'detachably connected with the bulb 10. This arrangement affords the requisite idling and floating rotary movement for the air driven interceptor unit 35. V

The principle of air drive'is "well known and is produced by the. ascension of the heated air through the openings 15 and 13 and the displacing of said airby incoming cold air, which exchange is suflicient to set up the requisite air circulation to impinge against the fins ll and to drive the propulsion ring 10 and its associated details. Therefore vby arranging thev multicolored interceptor units 26 and 35 in parallelism and vertically superposed relationship, fixing the units QG-and rotating the units 35, a peculiar lighting effectis promoted, depending on thecolor scheme of glass sectors used. Otherwise stated, the light from the lamp or bulb 1O isreflected by the reflector 14 through the units 35 and 26 respectively, and the movement of the unit 35 in a rotary path produces an ever-changing colored light beam effect of a kaleidoscopic nature.

This gist of the invention. is found in the provision of an appropriate reflectorequipped lamp shade containing an electric bulb and suitable means whereby it may be detachably and adjustably connected with the top of the tree, with internal means locatedin the path of projection of the light rays to color said rays to produce the desired scintillatingand pleasing effect.

Specific noveltyhowever is predicated upon the construction and arrangement of the relatively stationary and movable parts 26 and 35 using the old and well-recognized air drive principle for the movable parts.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A Christmas tree ornament comprising a lamp shade, a reflector therein, means carried by the shade for accommodation of an electric socket and bulb, a centralized yoke, means connecting said yoke with the intermediate portion of the shade, a conical ferrule adapted for telescopic reception of the upper end of the trunk of the tree, a flexible connection between the ferrule and yoke to permit the shade to be tilted to the desired angle,-an attachingstick carried by the forrule and adapted to be united to the tree by a tie wire or the like.

2. A Christmas tree ornament comprising a lamp. shade, a reflector on the interior of said shade, an electric bulb and supporting means carried by the shade, said bulb dependinginto the shade for co-operation with the reflector, an apertured annulus attached to the lower end portion of the shade, a centralized plate, the plate and annulus being provided with radially spaced circumferential supporting ledges, an interceptor unit comprising a plurality of differently colored transparent sectors and Jnarginal retaining rims therefor, said. rims being connectedwith the ledges, a pair of centralized vertically superposed bearings, a perpendicular shaft mounted for rotation in said bearings,'a hub attached to said shaft above said plate, a drive ring, said ring being provided with a plurality of propulsion fins and an inner peripheral ledge, said hub having a complemental ledge, a second interceptor unit comprising-a plurality of, differently colored transparent sectors and marginal reinforcing and retaining rims, said rims being cooperab'le with the last-named ledges, and means for connecting said plate with a Christmas tree the upper parts of the shade and reflector having openings therein whereby air heated by the bulb will escape through said opening and air will be drawn in throughzthe apertures in the annulus and contact the fins and thus rotate the drive ring. 7

3. A Christmas tree ornament comprising a substantially frusto-conical lamp shade, a reflector on the interior thereof, an incandescent bulb supported to depend into said shade for 'co-operation with said reflector, an

apertured annulus secured to the shade, a centralized plate provided with a screw threaded collar, a supporting yoke attached to said plate, means for attaching the yoke to the tree including a flexible connection, a bearing and feed screw threaded through said collar and provided with a socketed bearing, a multi-colored transparent light interceptor supported between theplate and annulus, a clip detachably embracing said bulb and provided with a bearing located in vertical alinement above said feed screw, a rotary shaft mounted for rotation in said bearings, a hub attached to said shaft above said plate, a drive ring located above said annulus and formed with propulsion fins, a second multi-colored transparent interceptor unit located above said first-named unit and attached to the ring and hub respectively, the upper portions of the reflector and shade being provided with air circulation holes.

4. A device of the class described comprising a shade, a socket passing through the top of the shade, a bulb carried by the socket and located in the shade, said shade having openings in its upper end, a perforated flange extending inwardly from the walls of the shade intermediate the ends of the shade, a supporting member extending upwardly into the shade, a transparent member located between the supporting member and the flange, a rotary member having a centrally arranged hub located above the supporting member, means for rotatably supporting said rotary member'from the supporting member, said rotary member having a transparent portion formed of differently colored sectors ar ranged above thetransparent member and blades attached to the outer edge of the rotary member and arranged adjacent the perforations in the flange, whereby the air heat ed by the bulb will pass through the openings in the top of the shade and air will be drawn in through the perforations in the flange and will act on the blades to rotate the rotary member.

In testimony whereof I alflx my signature.

JESS C. MARE. 

